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Match Report

Cross Keys 44-38 Bridgend

Bridgend Ravens finished their Principality Premiership with a double bonus point defeat in a high scoring end of season affair against Cross Keys at Pandy Park.

Bridgend raced into an early lead as Tom O'Flaherty pounced on
a loose pass from Cross Keys to score. The flyer showed he had more than enough
pace to finish after he gathered on halfway. Howe added the conversion for an
early 7 point lead.

Andrew Waite put in an impressive display all afternoon running
with ball in hand. The flanker showed his intent early as a bust from deep in
his own 22 saw the back row make 65 metres up field before the attack was
stifled by Keys' scrambling defenders.

The Ravens forwards had a clear edge at scrum time throughout
the match and won a penalty that Owen Howe slotted, having missed a long range
effort moments earlier.

The hosts clawed back three points straight away as they
reclaimed the kick off, a penalty in front of the posts was successful from
Ethan Davies.

Owen Howe landed three further penalties to push the Ravens
into a healthy 19-3 lead. The scrum, still marching forward, handed Howe two of
the penalty opportunities as well as resulting in a yellow card for Cross Keys'
prop Cornock.

Cross Keys rallied whilst down to 14 men and managed to score
three tries in a six minute blitz as the Ravens were caught napping. The tries
from Scott Matthews, Lloyd Lewis and James Leadbitter were all converted by
Ethan Davies to edge Cross Keys into the lead for the first time in the match
as halftime neared. Just before the break, Keys' Second Row Hodge was shown a
yellow for illegally halting a Ravens maul.

HT Cross Keys 24-19 Bridgend Ravens

Cross Keys' impressive Number 8 Jack Condy grabbed a try 5
minutes into the second half. A scrum five metres out for Cross Keys was driven
backwards by the Ravens but Condy picked up from the base and barged over.
Davies added the conversion.

The Ravens had Cai Lewis sent to the bin as Cross Keys heaped
pressure on Bridgend's defence. The hosts eventually knocked on in the Ravens
22 and the scrum offered Bridgend a chance to clear. A poor pass to Liam Jones
allowed the Keys defence to close down the outside half, stopping the chance to
kick, the ball was offloaded to Adam Williams who raced up-field clearing the
pressure with an excellent run. The centre kicked ahead as play went from one
22 to the other.

Cross Keys were back on the attack shortly after. A Liam Jones
kick at halfway was charged down and Keys launched an attack. The hosts won a
penalty which they kicked to touch and drove a maul deep in the Ravens 22. The
maul was dragged down and Henri Williams was shown a yellow card - just as
Bridgend were back to a full complement. The resulting penalty was again kicked
to touch, this time the maul was finished with a try from Anthony Lott.

Andrew Waite made more great yards in the buildup to the Ravens
next try before offloading out wide and an attempted interception was knocked
on. At the resulting scrum a free kick was awarded to Bridgend and the visitors
tapped quickly. A pass infield allowed Adam Williams to step his way around the
final defender to go over under the posts and Owen Howe added the conversion to
close the gap to 10.

Cross Keys hit back minutes later as a turnover in midfield sit
up a breakaway down the left wing. An excellent try saving tackle from Chris
Williams was in vain as the ball was recycled quickly and open-side Scott
Matthews grabbed his second try of the afternoon as the final ten minutes
approached.

The Ravens battled back with two quick fire tries to heap
pressure on the hosts. First Ashleigh James touched down following a powerful
driving maul with just five minutes remaining. Howe managed to convert from out
wide.

As the 80th minute approached, a lineout in a similar position
was again driven toward the line by the excellent Ravens forwards. Ashton Evans
was the man to touch down this time to narrow the gap to 3 points. This time
the conversion was missed as Bridgend looked to snatch victory late on.

The Ravens fielded the kickoff but conceded a penalty which
Ethan Davies slotted as the match ended with the visitors picking up two bonus
points to ensure the Ravens end the campaign off the foot of the table.